Aggregate weighing and mixing machine



Jan. 28, 1930. i E. H. LICHTE'NBERG 1,745,174

AGGREGATE WEIGHING AND MIXING MACHINE Original Filed May 16, 1924 Fig.1.

swam H600 EHLz chZenZeTQ Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERICK H. LICHTENBERG, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T KOEHBING COM= PANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION AGGREGATE 'WEIGHING AND MIXING MACHINE Original application filed May 16, 1924, Serial No. 713,849. Divided and this application filed December 3,

mixing machine of the type above noted which will function to accurately weigh materials as they are placed in the charging skip. In attaining this end, I avail of suspension instrumentalities which constitute a part of the weighing means and which function to maintain the skip upraised a slight distance from the ground so that as aggregate materials are placed in the skip compartment, the skip is forced down toward the ground against the action of the weighing instrumentalities, causing the latter to register the weight of the materials.

It is obvious that such a weighing mechanism is capable of accurately proportioning the diiferent aggregates inasmuch as one material may be placed in the skip to a certain desired Weight, after which the second material may be added, the weight desired of course bemg'added onto the Weight of the first supplied aggregate. In this manner all the materials golng into a batch of concrete may be accurately weighed. In carrying out my idea more in detail, I propose to avail of a scale beam type of weighing mechanism inasmuch as such a construction is of a more or less simple nature and readily adapts itself to incorporation into the construction of this type of mixing machine. It is a further object of this invention to associate with the 40 weighing mechanism, control instrumentalities for the hoisting means of the charging skip which function to move the latter into a position wherein the materials are charged into the mixing drum. These control instrumentalities are designed to cause operation of the skip hoisting means when the weight of the material in the skip has reached a certain predetermined point. This feature has the advantage of obviating the necessity of mannal initiation of upward movement of the Serial No. 323,441.

rangements of parts as will be subsequently specified and claimed.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, some v what diagrammatic, of a mixing machine made in accordance with this invention, my novel weighing apparatus being applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan view somewhat diagrammatic, showing the manner of application of the skip hoist means by the control instrumentalities which are affected by the weighing mechanism.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is herein set forth, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact constructions illustrated and described,

because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings the framework of a well known type of mixing machine is referred to by the reference character A. Suitably mounted on the framework A is a mixing drum B which is charged with materials from a charging skip C. Means (not shown) are provided for discharging mixed materials from the drum. Skip hoist mechanism for the charging skip C is located on the top of the mixer and designated generally Dr This mechanism includes a small winding drum 1 on which are taken up the skip hoist cables 2 which have their ends anchored to the skip as shown at 3. A clutch mechanism is located at 4 and is operable to clutch the drums 1 to shaft 5 to cause hoisting action of the skip. This clutch mechanism includes an arm 6 pivotally mounted on the framework A as shown at 7. a

A scale beam 8 is pivoted at 9 to a bracket 10 which is affixed to the frame A'and has one end terminating in a pointer 11 which is designed to cooperate with indicia 12 described on a plate 13 that is suitably fastened to the frame 1. The beam 8 may carry a weight member 14 which also functions. as an abutment member in a manner to be hereinafter more fully set out.

A spring 15 has one end anchored to a bracket 16 included in the construction of the mixer, while its other end is made fast to the scale beam at 17 This spring functions to resist upward movement with that part of the scale beam 8 to which it is attached.

A cable 18 has each end aflixed to one of the scale beams 8 at 19, while the bent portion 20. This abutment member is adapted to be until the pointer 11, in conjunction with in-.

dicia 12, indicates that the desired weight of the material has been supplied, after which the gravel or cement are added in a-similar manner, the pointer 11 indicating the total weight of the materials in the skip. Now as to the phase of automatic operation of the skip, it will be noted that the abutment member 21 may be adjusted sothat the member 14 will engage thereagainst when a certain predetermined weight of materials is in the skip.

- When this engagement takes place, the arm 20 is moved upwardly causing an upward movement of the tapered portion 23 to swing the clutch arm 6, whereby the skip hoist clutch is engaged to cause upward movement of the skip to a charging position. Conventional clutch knock-out means, not shown, may be provided to knock out the clutch when the skip has reached its charging position,

this being a well known expedient in the art. It is obvious that the cables 18 may be made of proper length so as to maintain the skip C upraised a slight distance from the ground or like surface.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a concrete mixing machine of the class described, the combination, with a pivotally mounted charging skip movable from a non-charging into a charging position, devices for raising and lowering the skip, of weighing mechanism for determining the weight of the materials in the skip and connected therewith, said mechanism including indicia means for designating the weight of materials in the skip.

2. In a concrete mixing machine of the class described, the combination, with a for hoisting the skip into a charging position,

of Weighing mechanism fordetermining the weight of materials in the skip, said mechanism including suspension means for maintammg the skip upralsed a sllght distance of! .the ground or like surface.

. 3. In a concrete mixing machine of the class described, the combination, with a pivotally mounted charging skip and means for hoisting the skip into a charging position, of weighing mechanism for determining the weight of materials in the skip, said weighing mechanism including a scale beam pivotally mounted on the framework of the mixing machine, suspension means connecting one end of the scale beam with the skip, and means associated with the scale beam adjacent the other end for resisting movement thereof caused by gravity action due to the weight of materials in the skip.

4. A concrete mixing machine of the class described, comprising, in combination, a mixing drum, charging means therefor, means for hoisting the charging means into position wherein its contents are charged into the mixing drum, and mechanism for automatically initiating operation of said last men-- tioned means when a predetermined wei ht of materials has been placed in the charging tion of operation of the skip moving means 130 whereby the latter automatically moves the skip into a discharging position.

6. A concrete mixing machine of the class described, comprising, in combination, a framework, a mixing drum mounted on the framework, a skip pivotally mounted on the framework movable into a position wherein its contents are charged into the drum, and means for automatically initiating movement of the skip into a charging position when a predetermined weight of materials has been deposited in the said skip.

7. Weighing mechanism for concrete mixing machines of the class described, comprising, in combination, a loading skip, a scale beam, means for suspending the loading skip from one'end of the scale beam, the other end of the scale beam constituting apointer, indicia means adapted to cooperate with the pointer end of the scale beam, and means for causing resistance to movement on the part of the pointer end of the scale beam due to weight of materials in the skip.

8. A concrete mixing machine of the class described, comprising, in combination, a loading skip movable into position wherein it deposits its contents, weighing mechanism including an abutment member, means for moving the skip into a discharging position, instrumentalities for controlling the operation of said last named means comprising clutch mechanism, a clutch arm, a member adapted to affect the clutch arm to cause operation of the clutch mechanism whereby movement of the skip into a discharging position is initiated, and an abutment member adapted to be engaged by the abutment member of the weighing mechanism when a predetermined weight of materials has been deposited in the skip.

9. A concrete mixing machine of the class described, comprising, in combination, a framework, a loading skip pivotallymounted on the framework, hoisting)means for the loading skip includin 8. ca drum on which the ca 1e is wound, a drive shaft, means for clutching the drum to the drive shaft, and means for automaticallycausing the operation of said last named means to clutch the drum to the shaft to cause hoisting action of the skip when a predetermined weight of materials has been deposited in the said skip.

10. In a concrete mixin machine of the class described, the com ination, with a charging skip that is adapted to receive materials and be upraised to a position wherein the materials are charged into a mixing machine, of weighin mechanism for determining the weight 0 materials in the skip connected with the skip. I

11. In a concrete mixing machine of the class described, the combination, with a charging skip adapted to assume a position on the ground wherein it receives materials le, a hoisting and also for movement upwardly into a posit10n wherein its aggregates are charged into the drum of a mixing machine, of weighingv mechanism for determining the weight of the materials in the skip, said mechanism including indicia means for designating the weight of the materials in the skip, and means connecting the weighing mechanism with the skip to accomplish said weighing action.

12. In a concrete mixing machine of the class described, the combination, with a charging skip adapted to assume a position on the ground wherein it receives materials and also for movement upwardly into a position wherein its aggregates are charged into the drum of a mixing machine, of weighing mechanism for determining the weight of the materials in the skip, said mechanism includ ing suspension means for maintaining the skip upraised a slight distance off the ground or similar surface.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ERICH H. LICHTENBERG. 

